Canterbury City Council plans no parking price rises in 2027/28, a bigger resident discount and free Sundays at seafront car parks. Consultation comes first.
Canterbury City Council plans no increase in car park charges or parking permit prices for 2027/28. Residents would also get a bigger discount at many car parks, and some seafront car parks would be free on Sundays.
Cabinet agreed on Tuesday 3 November to put the plans out to public consultation. Nothing is final until Cabinet decides on 9 February 2027.
The officer report says usage figures are the reason for the freeze. Permits usually rise with inflation, so holding them is a change too.
What is proposed
The Cabinet papers set out four proposals:
- A bigger resident discount. It would go from 10% to 20% at band 2 and band 3 car parks with number plate recognition, and from 20% to 25% at Park and Ride.
- Free Sundays at band 5 car parks. These are the leisure car parks, mainly on the coast.
- A market trader permit in Herne Bay. It would cost £100 a year and cover the Market Street car park.
- £25,000 for promotions. The money could fund sustainable transport incentives or parking discounts.
Permit holders would also no longer need to reapply for three years. The whole package would cost the council about £79,000 a year in lost income.
What the discount would mean in pounds
| Car park | Resident rate now | Proposed |
|---|---|---|
| St Radigund's Street, Millers Field, Longport (Canterbury, band 2) | £2.40 an hour | £2.20 an hour |
| Middle Wall (Whitstable, band 2), Neptune (Herne Bay, band 2) | £2.40 an hour | £2.20 an hour |
| Riverside, Station Road West, Castle Street (Canterbury, band 3) | £1.70 an hour | £1.50 an hour |
| William Street (Herne Bay, band 3) | £1.70 an hour | £1.50 an hour |
| Park and Ride sites | £3.20 a day | £3.00 a day |
| Band 2 daily cap | £18 | £16 |
| Band 3 daily cap | £13.50 | £12 |
Drivers without the discount would pay what they pay now. That is £2.70 an hour at band 2 and £1.90 at band 3, with daily caps of £20 and £15. Band 1 car parks are not part of the resident scheme.
The free Sunday matters only in summer. Band 5 car parks charge £1.60 an hour between 10am and 4pm from April to September and are already free the rest of the time. Councillor Paul Prentice, the Cabinet member for transport, told the meeting that the change covers over 400 spaces along the coast.
Why the freeze
The report compares the first six months of 2026/27 with the same months a year earlier:
- parking in Canterbury fell 1.9%
- parking in Herne Bay fell 4.5%
- parking in Whitstable fell 0.5%
- Park and Ride use rose 5%
Footfall in Canterbury fell by 0.3% between April and August. Parking brings the council about £11m a year.
Separately, the draft budget sets aside £15,000 for a parking permit waiting list. Councillor Pip Hazelton told the meeting that residents can currently only keep trying until a permit comes free.
The argument over it
Councillor Dan Watkins, speaking for the Conservative group, asked Cabinet to consult on a further option. He proposed a council tax freeze and a one-year cut in car park charges, paid for by a smaller rise for the council’s waste company, Canenco. Cabinet members did not take that up at the meeting.
Councillor Chris Cornell said the council’s free parking days would run again this winter, from the start of December to Easter. The dates were not given at the meeting.
What it means for you
- If you live in the district, the discount applies only if you are registered for the resident rate. The council’s parking pages explain how.
- If you want to comment, notices will go in the Kentish Gazette and at any car park where terms get tighter. The wider budget consultation runs from 11 November to 6 January.
- Sydenham Street permit holders should note one change: eligibility for its residents’ car park would be limited to people living in Sydenham Street.
Consultation responses go to the Overview Committee on 21 January 2027, then to Cabinet on 9 February. Our Canterbury parking page lists current prices for every car park.
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